Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-01-06
A LAND-SLIP CURE.
An Electrifying Romance Of 'the
Invalids' Corner"

Where the pine trees droop over the
side of the cliff, and appear as if long
ing to plunge into the lovely stretch of
sea before them, is a tiny nook that
even in December is regular sun
trap, and is known to every one in
Drayton as the Invalids' Corner.
1t is sad little corner, for here
comes those who have but shor. time
to remain among the living. while their
nerveless fingers clutch nervously ut
the warn: rugs that are wrapped round
their knees, and whose large eyes gaze
ever out to sea. Most of the invalids
have relatives who come and sit by
them, anxlously noticing each change
in the wind, or watching eagerly for
the first signs of the disappearance of
the sun, when they will hurry away
their charges before the air has time to
chill in the very least. But, perhaps,
the hardest cases of all are the isolated
invalids, who somehow or other seem
left to die alone; poor old maids or
bachelors who cling to an empty exist
ence in the strangest manner, doubt
less waiting for better days in the way
we all-rich and poor, sick and we'll
are apt to do. Fortunately, these cases
are few and far between, and are so
piteous that some one or other is gen.
orally ready to give their sympathy to
the solitary invalid; and often the In
valids' Corner is the scene of romances
that sometimes end in happier man.
ner than one might expect from their
sad surroundings.
But Francis Priestly-returned inva-
lid from India, and condemned. as he
termed it, to six months solitary con-
finement on his back in a warmer spot
than London-cared for nothing save
his own discomfort At first he had
rcbelled openly against his doctors
fiat, and said he would rather die than
90 to Drayton. But on DR.. Parkyns
saving that in that case he must get an
other medical man to attend him, for
he would not, he gave in, and con-
scented to try the proposed remedy. 1t
would, DIR. Parkyns assured him, if he
could only learn patience and quiet
waiting, end in making him quite well.
But patience was not known to Francis
Priestly. All through lite he had suf-
fered from his own precip,tancy-he
had invariably been in a hurry.
Long ago he had been engaged to
the pretty daughter of the rector of the
parish where his fathers park was sit
uated. But she could not leave her
father until her next sister was ready
to take her place at the head of the
big, motherless households; and Fran
els, accusing her of not loving him.
had dashed away to join his regiment,
leaving Edith broken-hearted. He had
married. on board ship, the pretty.
silly, childish wife that had made him
miserable for six years, and had finally
eloped, leaving with him four babies,
and ruined life. But she died of
fever only month after, ana he had
sent the children home to his wife's
parents, and now was quite alone in
the world.
He had never felt this before he was
i'll; he had always more friends than he
could count; and. what with one thing
and another, time had never hung
heavily on his hands. But now it was
really terrible. And, perhaps. the
worst part of his illness was the way in
which all the past eight years seemed
TO pass in procession before him, re-
peating, as they fled before his wax
ing or sleeping vision: You have
brought it all on yourself. you know.
II you had only waited for the gifts we
had for you, you would have been
happy, prosperous and well; but you
took forcihly what was never meant